Turning uplift apparatus

ABSTRACT

A turning uplift apparatus is provided which enables the user to utilize the device as a piece of playground or backyard play equipment commonly known as a see-saw. The apparatus includes a frame structure means, a user support means, and a user engagement means. The user support means pivotally mounts to the frame structure means, while the user engagement means pivotally mounts to the user support means. The apparatus is different from the more conventional see-saw apparatuses in that the upward and downward pivoting motion of the user is produced by rocking the user engagement means forward and backward, not by pushing against the ground with the feet of the user. The apparatus may be configured so that rocking the user engagement means backward and forward may produces different seat movement, including rotation about the base of the frame structure means. The apparatus may also take the form of a single user see-saw and/or exercise machine, with an optional weight support member for weighing down one side.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/617,334, filed Jul. 17, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a turning uplift apparatus which has an upright structure that allows the user to uplift themselves while in a seated position. The pivoting motion oif the user allows the device to be used as a piece of playground or backyard equipment, commonly known as a see-saw, or as a piece of exercise equipment.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is the object of this invention to provide a turning uplift apparatus which may be used by a user to uplift themselves while in a seated position. The main purpose of this application is to demonstrate an apparatus which may perform the stated function, and to demonstrate the many options and configurations this apparatus may take on.

[0004] Briefly stated, the apparatus that forms the basis of the present invention comprises a frame structure means, a user support means, and a user engagement means. The user support means pivotally mounts on the frame structure means, while the user engagement means pivotally mounts upon the user support means. Optional items will include a weight support, which may be used when the device is configured as a single user see-saw or as an exercise product.

[0005] The design of the apparatus is such that the user support means pivots upward and downward upon the frame structure means, and the user engagement means pivots backward and forward upon the user support means. The user sits in a seat member and pivots the user engagement means. The user engagement means is operatively connected to the frame structure means in such a manner that pivoting the user engagement means in one direction causes the seat member to pivot upward, while piovoting the user engagement means in the opposite direction causes the seat member to pivot downward. The device may have two seat members which allows two people to use the device at the same time. The user engagement means may be designed in such a manner that the two users experience the same type of motion simultaneously, but in a opposite direction. Other objects, features, and advantages for this invention will be appararent from the following detailed description and the appended claims, references being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts of the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1A is a top view of the turning uplift apparatus.

[0007]FIG. 1B is a front view of the turning uplift apparatus.

[0008]FIG. 1C is a side view of the turning uplift apparatus.

[0009]FIG. 2A is a top view of the frame structure means of the turning uplift apparatus.

[0010]FIG. 2B is a front view of the frame structure means of the turning uplift apparatus.

[0011]FIG. 2C is a side view of the frame structure means of the turning uplift apparatus.

[0012]FIG. 3A is a top view of the user support means of the turning uplift apparatus.

[0013]FIG. 3B is a front view of the user support means of the turning uplift apparatus.

[0014]FIG. 3C is a side view of the user support means of the turning uplift apparatus.

[0015]FIG. 4A is a top view of the user engagement means of the turning uplift apparatus.

[0016]FIG. 4B is a front view of the user engagement means of the turning uplift apparatus.

[0017]FIG. 4C is a side view of the user engagement means of the turning uplift apparatus.

[0018]FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are front views of one embodiment of the turning uplift apparatus.

[0019]FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are front views of a second embodiment of the turning uplift apparatus.

[0020]FIG. 7 is a front view of the turning uplift apparatus with the user support means utilizing a double lever assembly.

[0021]FIG. 8 is a front view of the turning uplift apparatus when configured for a single user and also for an exercise machine.

[0022]FIG. 9A is a front view of the apparatus with an optional rotating wheel assembly for making motion of the apparatus smoother.

[0023]FIG. 9B is a side view of the apparatus with an optional rotating wheel assembly for making motion of the apparatus smoother.

[0024]FIG. 10A is a front view of the apparatus demonstrating the frame structure means with the capability of rotating the user in a circular pattern.

[0025]FIG. 10B is a front view of the apparatus with an optional platform member which may be utilized by the rotating wheel assembly for rotating the user support means in a circular pattern.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompnaying drawings, since it is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description, and not limitation.

[0027] As best can be seen by references to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1A-1C, the turning uplift apparartus that forms the basis of the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 5, and includes a frame structure means 10, a user support means 20, and a user engagement means 30. The user support means 20 pivotally mounts upon frame structure means 10, while the user engagement means 30 pivotally mounts upon user support means 20.

[0028] As may be seen in FIGS. 2A-2C, the frame structure means 10 comprises a base member 11, at least one support member 12, at least one curved member 13, and frame openings 15. The support member 12 is an upwardly extending structure, rigidly supported at its lower end by base member 11. Main curved member 13 may rotatably mount to support member 11 through one of the frame openings 15 via a bolt, pin, or the like. It could also be rigidly mounted, but the rotatably mounting is preferred.

[0029] As may be seen in FIGS. 3A-3C, the user support means 20 comprises at least one main lever member 21, seat members 22, support openings 27, and engagement openings 28. Main lever member 21 is a generally horizontal structure having a seat member 22 rigidly mounted at opposite ends. The main lever member 21 pivotally mounts to the support member 12 of frame structure means 10 through support openings 27 of main lever member 21, and frame opening 15 of support member 12. As seen, in the one embodiment, the bolt or pin used to mount main curved member 13 to support member 12 is also used to pivotally mount main lever member 21 to support member 12. In a second embodiment, which will be described later, there will be seperate bolts or pins for mounting main curved member 13 and main lever member 21.

[0030] As may be seen in FIGS. 4A-4C, user engagement means 30 comprises at least two rocker members 31 pivotally mounted to main lever member 21 through engagement openings 28. Each rocker member 31 is a generally upwardly extending structure and may have an upper engagement member 32 mounted at or near the top, and a lower engagement member 33 mounted at ot near the bottom. Either the upper engagement member 32 or the lower engagement member 33 may be considered optional, since only one is needed for user engagement. The rocker members 31 mounted on oppsoite ends of main lever member 21. The upper ends of each rocker member 31 are pivotally connected together using upper connection members 34, while the lower ends of rocker members 31 are pivotally connected together using lower connection members 35. Again, either upper connection member 34 or lower connection member 35 may be considered optional, since only one is needed for operation. The connection member, along with main lever member 21, keep the rocker members 31 parallel to one another while the apparatus is in operation.

[0031] FIGS. 5A-5C demonstrate one embodiment of the apparatus while in operation. As may be seen in these figures, moving the upper engagement member 32 in the forward direction and/or the lower engagement member 33 in the backward direction will cause the corresponding seat member 22, and thus the user, to pivot in the upward direction. Conversely, moving the upper engagement member 32 in the backward direction and/or the lower engagement member 33 in the forward direction will cause the corresponding seat member 22, and thus the user, to pivot downward Motion in the upper engagement member 32 will normally be produced by the upper body of the user, i.e. the arms and hands, while the motion in the lower engagement member 33 will normally be produced buy the lower body of the user, i.e. the legs and feet. The apparatus may also be designed to utilize other parts of the body for engagement.

[0032] The pivoting motion is produced when the upper connection member 34 engages main curved member 13. As upper engagement member 34 is moved in one direction, the force exerted upward by curved member 13 on upper connection member 34 will cause the end of main lever member 21, towards which the connection member moves, to pivot downward. In this configuration, lower connection member 35 is not necessarily required, but does assist somewhat in producing the motion, and also keeping rocker members 31 generally parallel to one another. The opposite may also be considered true. Lower connection member 35 may be used to cause the pivoting movement of main lever member 21, while upper connection member 34 may be considered optional. In this embodiment, rocker members 31 will remain generally perpendicular to main lever member 21. Even though some of the figures may demonstrate multiple connection members and multiple curved members, only one connection member and only one curved member is actually required for the apparatus to operate.

[0033] FIGS. 6A-6C demonstrate a second embodiment of the turning uplift apparatus. In this instance, curved member 13 has been moved to a lower position, so that lower connection member 35 engages the upper part of curved member 13. This, in effect, causes an opposite motion from that previously shown and described. Moving the upper engagement 32 in the backward direction and/or the lower engagement member 33 in the forward direction, causes the correspopnding seat member 21 to pivot upward. Conversely, moving the the upper engagement member 32 in the forward direction and/or lower engagement member 33 in the backward direction causes the corresponding seat member 21, and thus the user, to move downward.

[0034] The pivoting motion is produced when the lower connection member 35 engages main curved member 13. As lower connection member 35 is moved in one direction, the force exerted upward by main curved member 13 on lower connection member 35 will cause the end of main lever member 21, towards which the connection member moves, to pivot downward. This motion is thus opposite from the other embodiment. In this instance, upper connection member 32 is optional. A secondary curved member 14 may be added to engage upper connection member 32, with upper connection member 32 engaging the bottom part of secondary curved member 14.

[0035] As with the previous embodiment, the opposite may hold true. Secondary curved member 14 may become the main curved member, with upper connection member 34 causing the pivoting movement of main lever member 21, with the lower connection member 35 and curved member 13 being considered as the optional items. Again, even though some of the figures may demonstrate multiple connection members and curved members, only one connection member and one curved member is actually required for the apparatus to operate.

[0036] As may be seen in FIG. 7, a secondary lever member 26 may be used in conjunction with main lever member 21 of user support means 20. This secondary lever member 26 is also pivotally mounted to support member 12 of frame structure means 10. The seat member 22 may be pivotally mounted to both main lever member 21 and secondary lever member 26, so that the seat maintain a generally horizontal position during operation of the apparatus. This well-known double lever feature may be incorporated into either embodiment of the apparatus.

[0037]FIG. 8 demonstrates the apparatus while being used as a single user see-saw device, and/or as an exercise machine. As seen, there is only one seat member 22, one upper engagement member 32, and one lower engagement 33. However, a second rocker member 31 is needed. An optional item is a weight support member 23, which may be used to support weight members 24. Weights may be used not only when the apparatus is configured as an exercise machine, but also when it is configured as a single user see-saw, to make operation easier. Again, these features may be incorporated into either embodiment of the apparatus.

[0038] As may be seen in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a rotatable member 40 may be mounted at its proximate center on the support member 12 of frame structure means 10. A first rotatable pin 41 may be mounted at some point along rotatable member 40, while a second rotatable pin 42 may be mounted on lever member 21 of user support means 20. A linkage member 43 may then be pivotally mounted on one end to rotatable pin 41, and pivotally mounted on its other end to rotatable pin 42. The linkage member 43 thus connects lever member 21 and rotatable member 40 through universal-type joint connections. These type of connections will compensate for the different relative positions of the lever member 21 and rotatable member 40. Preferrably, rotatable member 40 is a flywheel, with it being utilized to make motion of the apparatus smoother.

[0039]FIG. 10 demonstrates a modification to the base member 11 and support member 12 of the frame structure means 10. In this instance, support member 12 may be constructed so that its bottom rotates within base member 11, thus allowing support member 12 to rotate around base member 11. With rotatable member 40 being a flywheel, the momentum of the flywheel will cause support member 12 to rotate around base 11 as lever member 21 moves upward and downward.

[0040] As may be seen further in FIG. 11, a platform member 44 may also be part of the base, with rotatable member 40 being in rolling contact with platform member 44. Thus as rotatable member 40 rotates while in contact with platform member 44, the support member 12 will again rotate about base member 11, but at a much faster rate. In this instance, rotatable member 40 does not have to necessarily need to be a flywheel, but again, a flywheel will make motion of the apparatus smoother.

[0041] Many variations of the turning uplift apparatus exist, along with the configurations described above. While it will be apparent that the embodiments of the invention herein is well calculated to fulfill the objects stated above, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation, and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims. 

I claim:
 1. A turning uplift apparatus comprising: a frame structure means having a curved member mounted thereon; a user support means pivotally mounted to said frame structure means; a user engagement means pivotally mounted to said user support means; said user engagement means having a connection member operatively engaging said curved member of said frame structure means, said connection member operatively engaging said curved member by moving along at least a portion of its curved surface; whereby pivoting said user engagement means in the forward and backward directions produces upward and downward pivoting motion in said user support means.
 2. The turning uplift apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said frame structure means further comprising: a base; at least one support member extending generally upward from said base, said curved member being rotatably mounted to said support member.
 3. The turninig uplift apparatus as claimed in claim 2, said curved member being a wheel.
 4. The turning uplift apparatus as claimed in claim 2, said user support means further comprising: at least one generally horizontal lever member, said lever member being pivotally mounted to said support member of said frame structure means; at least one seat member mounted on one end of said lever member.
 5. The turning uplift apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said user engagement means comprising: at least two rocker members pivotally mounted to said lever member of said user support means, said rocker members being pivotally mounted on opposite ends of said lever members; at least one upper engagement member mounted near the top of one of said rocker members; said connection member pivotally connecting said rocker members so that said rocker members remain generally parallel to one another, said connection member operatively engaging said curved member of said frame structure means; whereby moving said connection member backward and forward against said curved member of said frame structure means produces upward and downward movement of said lever member of said user support means.
 6. The turning uplift apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said user engagement means further comprising at least one lower engagement member mounted near the bottom of one of said rocker members.
 7. The turning uplift apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a weight support assembly mounted on one end of said lever member.
 8. The turning uplift apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further compring a second genrrally horizontal lever member pivotally mounted on said support member of said frame structure means; said seat pivotally mounted to both lever members such that said lever member remain parallel to one another, and said seat maintains a generally horizontal position as said lever members pivot.
 9. The turning apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further compring a rotatable member operatively connected to said lever member, said rotatable member making motion of said apparatus smoother.
 10. The turning apparatus as claimed in claim 9, said rotatable member being a flywheel.
 11. The turning apparatus as claimed in claim 9, said support member being turnable mounted to said base, said rotatable member being used to produce turning motion in said support member about said base.
 12. The turing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, said support member being turnably mounted to said base, said rotatable member being in rolling contact with said base for producing turning motion in said support member around said base. 